Massachusetts State Police: Taunton man arrested in fatal head-on crash on Route 495

A Massachusetts man has been arrested after a fatal head-on crash early this morning.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Troopers from the State Police Barracks in Millbury responded to reports of a wrong-way driver southbound on Interstate 495 northbound in Hopkinton. While Troopers responded to the area the wrong-way vehicle struck a vehicle traveling northbound.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the wrong-way vehicle, a 2018 Ford Transit driven by Devin Arroyo, 29, of Taunton, struck a car driven by another man head-on. The car was then struck in the rear by a 2020 International tractor trailer, operated by a 41-year-old man from Providence. The tractor-trailer was traveling behind the Infiniti and was unable to stop in time.

The Ford van rolled over after hitting the car.

The driver of the car was transported by ambulance to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester where he was pronounced deceased as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Arroyo, the driver of the Ford, was transported to UMass-Worcester with minor injuries. The driver of the International tractor trailer was not injured.

Subsequent investigation determined that Arroyo, the Ford Transit operator, was operating under the influence of alcohol. Troopers placed him into custody at the hospital for OUI-liquor. Further charges may be filed pending completion of the ongoing investigation.

Information about the deceased victim is being withheld at this time pending next of kin notification.

During the incident, all lanes of Interstate 495 northbound at exit 58 were closed to traffic. Traffic was diverted off at exit 54 West Main Street in Hopkinton at approximately 12:20 a.m. All lanes were reopened at approximately 4:50 a.m.

The remaining facts and circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by troopers from the State Police-Millbury Barracks and the Worcester County State Police Detective Unit, with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section.

Hopkinton Police, Fire and EMS, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation assisted on scene.